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Judges 6:25–27
“‘Tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it.’ … So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and did as the LORD had said to him” (Judg. 6:25b-27a).
In yesterday’s study, Gideon asked God for a sign and ended up coining something of a new name for Him. Today, God turns the tables on Gideon, putting him to the test and giving him a new name that will last his whole life long.
On the very night of Gideon’s calling by the Angel of the LORD, God gives him an assignment. On the surface, it seems to have nothing to do with delivering Israel from Midian’s oppression, and yet it has everything to do with it. Israel has turned away from God to the worship of pagan gods such as Baal and Asherah, and God, therefore, has allowed them to be subjugated by the Midianites. Thus, the root cause of their misery is not Midian but their own sin. As Gideon begins his judgeship, it is symbolically important that he strike a blow against these idols and call the Israelites to reject them. But his task will truly test his willingness to follow God. He is told, perhaps in a dream, to destroy the altar of Baal; to tear down the wooden image of the Phoenician goddess Asherah; to build an altar to God according to the dictates of the Mosaic law; and to make a burnt offering of one of his father’s bulls on the altar using the wood of the image for fuel. In doing these things, he will anger the villagers who venerate the idols, and he will embarrass and financially damage his own father. He must overcome the “love lines” that would prevent him from offending these important people in his life. God is asking him, in essence, “Gideon—do you love me more than these?”
Yes, he is willing to do it, though he still manifests a degree of hesitancy and fear. Taking 10 of his servants to help him (he is clearly from a wealthy family), he does as God told him to do. However, the author of Judges tells us he does it under cover of darkness because he fears the reaction of the citizens of Ophrah and the men of his father’s household. Matthew Henry speculates that he chooses to act during the night simply because it is less likely at that time that anyone will interfere with what is likely a lengthy process. However, the fact that he is not around to own the deed when the sunrise reveals his handiwork to the villagers, forcing them to investigate to learn that he is the culprit, shows us that while he is ready to follow God he has not yet shed his fear of men.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Do your “love lines” interfere with your service to God? In other words, does a desire not to offend important people in your life impact your obedience to God’s commands? Read the verses below, then ask yourself how you would behave differently if these people were not in your life. Ask God to help you love Him above all others.
for further study
- Matthew 10:37
- Matthew 22:37
- Luke 9:59–60
- 1 Corinthians 7:29–35